Hanging device for flexible containers

ABSTRACT

A device for holding and positioning a flexible container on a vertical or sloped surface. The device has a base element, secured to an outer surface of the flexible container, and a vertically oriented leg element. The vertically oriented leg element is hingedly secured to the base element, whereby when the vertically oriented leg element is pushed outward from the base element it forms a tab which may be secured over an edge of a vertical or sloped surface thereby securing and positioning the flexible container thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to containers and devices for holding containers on vertical surface, and more particularly to a device for adhering to flexible containers for hanging such containers on an edge of a vertical or sloped surface.

[0003] 2. Background Art

[0004] Various containers and accessories have been proposed and implemented for holding and storing various materials and items. Further, containers have been disclosed and developed with auxiliary devices to hold and position the container. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,262 issued to Sharkey Jul. 4, 1995, discloses an auxiliary condiment container with an upper flange with a pair of downward opening prongs for engaging a french fry container.

[0005] Other modifications of containers may be found, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,849 issued to Khozai, May 29, 1990, where a shoe cover pack includes a hook type element for hanging the shoe cover package on a door or in a closet. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,570 issued to Kim, Jul. 7, 1998 discloses a food container with a cut-away and ring element for holding a drink. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,220 issued to Daviss, Jan. 1, 1985 a container for holding popcorn and a drink is disclosed where a popcorn container is supplied with a ring element for holding a drink. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,698,085 issued to Crozier, Jan. 8, 1929 a modified bag with a C-shaped tab is disclosed for holing a bag to a hospital bed.

[0006] The present invention is a device for holding and positioning a flexible container on a vertical or sloped surface. The flexible container may be a bag or other flexible container, and may hold foodstuffs, such as a popcorn bag, or other items. The present invention may be provided as a device to modify an existing container, or a container which includes the device.

[0007] Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a device for holding and positioning a flexible container on a vertical or sloped surface, and to provide a flexible container including means for holding and positioning the container on a sloped or vertical surface.

[0008] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentality's and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] To achieve the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, a device for holding and positioning a flexible container for holding non-liquids on a vertical or sloped surface is provided. The device has a base element, secured to an outer surface of the flexible container, and a vertically oriented leg element. The vertically oriented leg element is hingedly secured to the base element, whereby when the vertically oriented leg element is pushed outward from the base element it forms a tab which may be secured over an edge of a vertical or sloped surface thereby securing and positioning the flexible container thereto. In one embodiment the base element is T-shaped and is secured to the flexible container by adhesives. The base element is preferably composed of a stiff, durable material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and, together with a general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0011]FIG. 1 shows a device for holding and positioning a flexible container on a vertical or sloped surface, according to the invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 shows such a device detached from a container, according to the invention.

[0013]FIG. 3 shows such a device holding a popcorn bag to a cup holder such as found in movie theaters, according to the invention.

[0014]FIG. 4 shows such a device with a round base element, according to the invention.

[0015]FIG. 5, shows such a device with a triangular base element, according to the invention.

[0016]FIG. 6, shows such a device with a square base element, according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0018] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a device for holding and positioning a flexible container on a vertical or sloped surface. The device has a base element, secured to an outer surface of the flexible container, and a vertically oriented leg element scored into the base element so that the leg element pops out when pushed. The vertically oriented leg element is hingedly secured to the base element, whereby when the vertically oriented leg element is pushed outward from the base element it forms a tab which may be secured over an edge of a vertical or sloped surface thereby securing and positioning the flexible container in a desired position.

[0019] There is also provided, according to the invention, a nonrigid container for holding non-liquids on a vertical or sloped surface, having a flexible container element, a base element, secured to an outer surface of the flexible container, a vertically oriented leg element, hingedly secured to the base element. When the vertically oriented leg element is pushed outward from the base element it forms a tab which may be secured over an edge of a vertical or sloped surface thereby securing and positioning the flexible container thereto.

[0020] In accordance with the invention, there is also provided a bag for holding foodstuffs or other materials on a vertical or sloped surface. The bag is composed of a flexible, nonrigid material, and includes a base element, secured to an outer surface of the bag by adhesives. A leg element is hingedly secured to the base element, so that when the leg element is pushed outward from the base element it forms a tab which may be secured over an edge of a vertical or sloped surface.

[0021] In FIG. 1, a device 10 for holding and positioning a flexible container 12, such as a popcorn bag 34 with popcorn 35, on a vertical or sloped surface, is shown according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Preferably, device 10, includes a base element 14. The base element 14 is secured to an outer surface 16 of the flexible container 12, preferably with adhesives 26, or may be made integral with the flexible container.

[0022] A vertically oriented leg element 18, is hingedly secured at hinge point 20 to base element 14, so that when vertically oriented leg element 18 is pushed outward from base element 14 it forms a tab 22 which may be secured over an edge of a vertical or sloped surface 32, as seen in FIG. 3, thereby securing and positioning the flexible container thereto.

[0023] As seen in FIGS. 1-3, base element 14 may be provided in a is T-shaped configuration. However, other configurations are also contemplated such as round, square, triangular and the like. Base element 14 is preferably composed of a stiff durable material, such as paper, cardboard, plastic or the like. It may be adhered to a bag, carton, box or the like. Device 10 may also be provided as a part of a flexible container such as a bag, that is not as a separate device for attachment to a flexible container, but as a new type of flexible container.

[0024] With reference now to FIG. 2, device 10 is shown detached from a flexible container in a T-shaped configuration with base element 14, and leg element 18. In this embodiment leg element 14 is scored 15 so that the leg pops out when pushed from behind. Alternatively, leg element 14 may be provided simply hinged at hinge point 20, or hinged and scored as shown in FIG. 2. Leg element 18, is preferably composed of a durable resilient material such as paper, cardboard, plastic or the like.

[0025] In FIG. 3, device 10 is shown secured to a popcorn bag with outer surface 16. Device 10 is secured with adhesives to outer surface 16, and has leg element 18 forming tab 22 which is secured to a vertical surface 32, which in this case is a ring cup holder typically found on chairs in movie theaters. As seen in FIG. 3, it is very easy attach or remove device 10 to such a vertical surface.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment, seen in FIG. 4, device 10 is shown with a round shaped base element 14, having leg element 18 and hinge point 20. Other curved shapes may also be used for base element 14, such as elliptical, oval, irregularly curved, or the like.

[0027] In FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of device 10 is shown with a triangular shaped base element 14, having leg element 18 and hinge point 20. Other shapes may also be used for base element 14, such as square, seen in FIG. 6, pentagonal, hexagonal, or the like.

[0028] In operation and use, device 10, is very efficient, reliable, for securing and positioning a flexible container to a vertical or sloped surface. By extending or pushing out leg 18, and then hooking leg 18 on an edge of the vertical or sloped surface, the flexible container is attached and positioned thereon. To detach, the user simply straightens leg element from the vertical surface and then lifts the flexible container. Alternatively, the flexible container may simply be torn away from the vertical or sloped surface.

[0029] Additional advantages and modification will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for holding and positioning a flexible container on a vertical or sloped surface, comprising: a base element, said base element being secured to an outer surface of said flexible container: and a vertically oriented leg element, said vertically oriented leg element being hingedly secured to said base element, whereby when said vertically oriented leg element is pushed outward from the base element it forms a tab which may be secured over an edge of a vertical or sloped surface thereby securing and positioning the flexible container thereto.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said base element is T-shaped.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said base element is secured to said flexible container by adhesives.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said base element is composed of a stiff, durable material.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein said flexible container is a bag.
 6. A nonrigid container for holding non-liquids on a vertical or sloped surface, comprising: a flexible container element; a base element, said base element being secured to an outer surface of said flexible container: and a vertically oriented leg element, said vertically oriented leg element being hingedly secured to said base element, whereby when said vertically oriented leg element is pushed outward from the base element it forms a tab which may be secured over an edge of a vertical or sloped surface thereby securing and positioning the flexible container thereto.
 7. The nonrigid container of claim 6, wherein said base element is T-shaped.
 8. The nonrigid container of claim 6, wherein said base element is secured to said flexible container element by adhesives.
 9. The nonrigid of claim 6, wherein said base element is composed of a stiff, durable material.
 10. A bag for holding material on a vertical or sloped surface, said bag being composed of a flexible, nonrigid material, comprising: a base element, said base element being secured to an outer surface of said bag by adhesives: and a leg element, said leg element being hingedly secured to said base element, whereby when said leg element is pushed outward from the base element it forms a tab which may be secured over an edge of a vertical or sloped surface thereby securing and positioning the flexible container thereto.
 11. The bag of claim 10, wherein said base element is T-shaped.
 12. The bag of claim 10, wherein said leg element is vertically oriented with respect to said base element.
 13. The bag of claim 10, wherein said base element is composed of a stiff, durable material.
 14. The bag of claim 10, wherein said base element has a round configuration,
 15. The bag of claim 10, wherein said base element has a square configuration.
 16. The bag of claim 10, wherein said base element has a triangular configuration
 17. The bag of claim 13, wherein said bag is composed of paper. 